Shoe-horn.



PATENTED SEPT. 10, 1907.

H. G. WEEKS.

SHOE HORN. APPLIOATION nun) JUNE 26. 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY e. WEEKS, OF PITTS'TO'N, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHOE -HORN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRYG. WEEKS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Pittston, in the. county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Shoe-Horns, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in shoe horns, and the object of my invention is to provide a shoe horn which will have a Wide range of usefulness, will be efficient in operation and will be convenient to carry in a pocket, purse or other receptacle upon the person.

In the drawing illustrating the principle of my invention, and the best mode now known to me of applying that principle, Figure 1 is a face view of my new shoe horn, and Fig.2 is an edge view thereof.

My new shoe horn is stiff (not limp) and is flexible and resilient. It is preferably made of celluloid, thin sheet (and, therefore, flexible) steel or other stiff, flexible and resilient material. The faces ofthe shoe horn are highly polished, and are thereby given a surface between which and the heel of the user, there is little friction; so, the heel slips readily 'over the highly polished surface of the shoe horn; and it may be readily withdrawn from the shoe after the foot is in place therein. By reason of the flexibility Eris resiliency of the material of which my new shoe horn is made, it readily conforms to the shape of the heel, when in working position; and it readily resumes its normal shape after it is withdrawn from the shoe. It is most convenient to slip into .a pocket book or like receptacle and is carried without inconvenience upon the person. By reason of its stiffness, it is readily placed in position between the heel of the user and the shoe.

An important feature of my invention resides in the tapering or wedge shape given to the shoe horn. As is best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, the shoe horn' tapers from the butt end a to the shoe or working end b, which has a very thin edge. This construction gives my shoe horn a wide range of usefulness. It is equally well adapted for use with a childs shoe as with the shoe of an adult. Thus, in case of a childs low shoe, the heel seat is small and the counter is low. My shoe horn is rigid enough to admit of its being put i i-only unti it reaches the heel seat or bottom; a611,: when pressure isexerted to force the foot'into the shoe, only the thin and most flexible part of the horn is used and brought into contact with the tender foot of the child, which is emential in the putting on of a child's low shoe. In case of the putting on of a msns shoe, the

' heel seatis larger, and the counters arehigher; and in Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 26,1906. Serial No. 323,420.

Patented Sept. 10, 1907.

using the horn on such a large shoe, the horn would naturally slip in further than it would in the case of a childs shoe. Thus, when the shoe is forced on to the foot (or the foot is forced into the shoe), the stronger and stiffer upper part of the shoe horn would be brought into use, thereby giving the proper and necessary resistance, and tending to increase the durability of the shoe horn itself. From this it follows that the tapering or wedge shapeof my new shoe hor'n, combined with its flexibility and resiliency, provides in the same shoe horn a graded stiffness and flexibility which adapts my new shoe horn to a wide range of usefulness in putting on shoes of many varieties and sizes, as explained above.

My new shoe horn combines the good features of the old style metal shoe horn and of the limp leather shoehorn while avoiding their disadvantages and deficiencies. It is sufficiently rigid when handled without pressure to enable it to be easily inserted between the heel and the shoe which is not true of the limp leather shoe horn. The .extreme resiliency of my new shoe horn causes it to resume its original fiat shape after use, and it may be placed in the pocket or purse without folding, rolling or other manipulation. The butt or thick end of my shoe horn is preferably formed with the corrugated surface 0 which aids in obtaining a firm grip upon the shoe horn. The smooth flat surface of the shoe horn may be used as a space upon which to print or otherwise place any reading matter. y

I am. aware of Patent N0.-728,788, granted A. D. Washington, May 19, 1903, and disclaim all that is therein'shown. My new shoe horn is not limp and is resilient; whereas, the shoe horn described in said patent is limp and is non-resilient. From what has been stated above, it will. be seen that there is nothing in common between the disclosure in said patent and the disclosure hereinbefore made.

. What I claim is:

As a new article of manufacture, a. handieless, reversible flexible shoe-horn made of celluloid and provided with rear and front faces which are plans surfaces and which converge towards one end, whereby the shoe-horn is given varying degrees of flexibility throughout its length; the thin end of said shoe-horn being adapted for use with a child's low shoe while the opposite thick end is adapted for use with an aduit's shoe.

\ In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses at said Pittston this nineteenth day of June, 1906.

- HENRY 6. WEEKS.

Witnesses:

Joan .T. Boora,

Tnos. F. Rooms. 

